The Tax Act of 2017
Implications for Co-ops, Condos, and HOAs

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 represents the first major restructuring of federal income taxes since 1986, and ushers in serious changes to how co-op, condo, and HOA owners will benefit from home ownership. In many cases, the new law will not help these owners due to its focus on eliminating itemized deductions that have historically accrued to and benefited homeowners over renters.

The (Former?) Benefits of Home Ownership

Since the end of World War II and the beginnings of the post-war expansion, federal tax law has been used to guide Americans toward the ‘American Dream’— the opportunity to own one’s own home, grow their equity, and by association provide both a financial cushion for later years and to create generational wealth. Mortgage interest as a deductible item on federal income taxes has been the bedrock of this policy. It provided owners with an opportunity to ‘subsidize’ their tax bill by lowering the amount of income subject to tax. Beside encouraging the purchase of homes throughout the nation’s suburbs, the obvious benefit of tax savings stimulated the trend of purchasing co-op and condo units in urban areas. In short, the policy clearly incentivized renters to become owners.

The federal income tax calculation provides the taxpayer the option of choosing what’s known as a standard deduction, or the opportunity to itemize. Itemizing of deductions on Schedule A provided deductions for such expenses as mortgage interest, state and local taxes, some medical expenses, and charitable deductions, to name a few. The standard deduction until December 31, 2017 was $12,100 for a married couple filing jointly. Single taxpayers were provided a standard deduction of $6,350.

The new tax act increases the standard deduction for single taxpayers to $12,000, and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly. While this may sound like a large increase — for tax-payers in high-tax, high cost-of-living areas like New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Boston — it is accompanied by a commensurate loss of deductible expenses that previously compensated them for living in a more expensive location.

Changes to Deductible ExpensesState and Local Taxes

According to Karen Sackstein, a certified public accountant and principal with The Condo Queens, an accounting firm based in Fair Lawn, New Jersey: “The two major changes in the new tax law that will affect co-op and condo owners are to the mortgage interest deduction and to the deduction for state and local taxes — also known by the acronym SALT. The biggest change for people in the New Jersey area is the deduction limitations for real estate taxes. In the past, for primary residences, the taxpayer was able to deduct 100 percent of their real estate taxes and their state income taxes — and that’s what people did. The average real estate tax deduction in New Jersey last year was $9,500. Under the new law, the maximum deduction for both real estate tax and state and local taxes is $10,000.”

REBNY's highly anticipated Residential Management Breakfast with over 500 attendees brings together owners, developers, and property managers to recognize and honor outstanding leaders in the field of residential property management. For information, visit www.rebny.com.

Session 1: “Capital Projects and Ways to Finance”; Session 2: “How Restoration and Insurance go ‘Hand in Hand’” No cost and limited to managers, board members and volunteers. To register, info@brainerdcommunications.com or 888-445-7946.

This 3-part class gives boards of very small buildings the tools they need to run their buildings efficiently, and to use professionals and vendors to best advantage. Registrants are strongly encouraged to attend all three sessions, the first presents an administrative overview; the second focuses on the physical plant and the third on financial responsibilities. Representatives of CNYC member buildings attend the series for $100; non-affiliates are welcome at a fee of $90 per session, payable in advance. Advance reservations are required. Call the CNYC office at (212) 496-7400 or send e-mail to workshops@CNYC.coop to to pre-reserve your place. Your payment confirms your registration. To pay at the door, pre- register and add $15.

Anderson Kill's Co-op and Condo Group Presents a Seminar Series Part II: "Legal Update"

Updates in the law happen every year and it is important for coop and condo boards to keep informed of the new requirements affecting their buildings. This seminar will focus on the most recent new rules and regulations for coop and condos, ranging from disclosure of conflicts of interest to instituting a smoking policy, from filing bedbug history reports to installation of water-saving fixtures. We will go through the deadlines for compliance and how coop and condo boards can effectively implement these new policies. Registration: 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.; seminar: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.; networking cocktail reception: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.. For information, visit www.andersonkill.com.

CNYC: Introduction To Co-Op Board Responsibilities: An Intensive Seminar For New Directors

In this 2-session class, attorney Marc Luxemburg and property manager Gregory Carlson examine all aspects of operating cooperatives. The class is limited to board members of housing cooperatives. It is jointly sponsored by CNYC, the Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums and the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives, each of whose members attend at the member rate.. Advanced registration is required. A light supper is served in the break. The cost is $125 per person if your cooperative is a member of CNYC; FNYHC, CAI Big Apple Chapter or ARC; $200 for non- members. Pre-reserve, by phone (212) 496-7400 or e-mail to workshops@CNYC.coop . Payment sent to CNYC at 250 West 57 Street, Suite 730, NYC 10107 confirms your registration. There is a surcharge of $15 for late payment.

Learn about the latest building services from more than 300 exhibitors. Attend educational seminars, Get free advice from industry experts, and network with your peers at this leading real estate trade show in New York. For more information and to register, visit https://coopexpo.com.

At BMAC Tri-State we will be diving into: rising interest rates, and multifamily financing; development risks: trade tariffs, construction labor shortages, government regulations; second cities, the quest for the urban lifestyle and proximity to what matters; new technology, artificial intelligence and amenities; affordability; investment opportunity and trends. For information, visit www.bisnow.com.

CNYC: Introduction To Co-Op Board Responsibilities: An Intensive Seminar For New Directors

In this 2-session class, attorney Marc Luxemburg and property manager Gregory Carlson examine all aspects of operating cooperatives. The class is limited to board members of housing cooperatives. It is jointly sponsored by CNYC, the Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums and the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives, each of whose members attend at the member rate.. Advanced registration is required. A light supper is served in the break. The cost is $125 per person if your cooperative is a member of CNYC; FNYHC, CAI Big Apple Chapter or ARC; $200 for non- members. Pre-reserve, by phone (212) 496-7400 or e-mail to workshops@CNYC.coop . Payment sent to CNYC at 250 West 57 Street, Suite 730, NYC 10107 confirms your registration. There is a surcharge of $15 for late payment.

The Business of Running your Community Rates $50 - CAI Members $100 - Non-Members Do you serve on the board of your association? Are you considering serving? Whether you are a seasoned board member, a recently elected board member or unit owner wanting to understand more about how an association runs, this is course it for you! For information: Ellen Felix
ellen@caict.org, 860-633-5692.

Grab a seat with your group. Attendees choose topics and our industry leaders rotate table to table and provide answers. Wrap up with a summary discussion and some door prizes! NO CHARGE and limited to board members, managers, volunteers. To register: info@brainerdcommunications.com or 888-445-7946.

Grab a seat with your group. Attendees choose topics and our industry leaders rotate table to table and provide answers. Wrap up with a summary discussion and some door prizes! NO CHARGE and limited to board members, managers, volunteers. To register: info@brainerdcommunications.com or 888-445-7946.

Our Spring Fling Event includes an education program from 3:00 - 5:00 pm open to homeowners & managers. Immediately following is our networking party which is open to everyone. Please register for this event by the status that best describes you. (i.e. Homeowner, Manager, Service Provider). For information, visit Ellen Felix, ellen@caict.org, 860-633-5692

Neighborhoods in NYC tend to start out on the fridge with some great foundations, grow in popularity, see continued capital investment pour in, and then get too expensive for most of the initial residents. How can one best time this cycle and find a way to get in on an emerging market before everyone else knows? Join us and find out! For information, visit www.bisnow.com.

The CAI Annual Conference and Exposition provides education sessions on operations, leadership, innovative business practices and new products and technologies. Industry professionals and homeowner volunteer leaders from around the world come together
to discuss critical issues, network and learn about the latest community association trends. For information, visit www.suncoastcai.com.

A must attend for all board members, property managers, condo & HOA decision makers and apartment building owners. Learn about the latest services from more than 300 exhibitors. Attend educational seminars, network with your peers and get free advice from industry experts. For more information, visit www.nj-expo.com.

News

Many sellers across New York City cut prices on their homes this February as winter brought a chill to the sales market. In Manhattan, more than 1 in 10 homes had their prices cut, and inventory increased by 11.7 percent from last year. With inventory levels and the share of price cuts high across the borough, prices cooled, too. The StreetEasy Manhattan Price Index [i] dropped 4.3 percent to $1,119,183, its lowest level since July 2015.
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3/21/2019
Zaha Hadid’s High Line condos linger on the market - Curbed

3/21/2019
Zaha Hadid’s High Line condos linger on the market - Curbed

All eyes may have been on Hudson Yards this past week, but according to Crain’s, the shine appears to have worn off at one of developer Related Companies’ other high-profile projects: the Zaha Hadid-designed condo at 520 West 28th Street, located a few blocks south of the megaproject.
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Word has slipped down the celebrity-property-gossip grapevine that Christie Brinkley and her pooch Chester have settled into a new and pricey rented apartment in New York City’s West Village that was last listed at $25,000 per month.
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Spring is officially here (even though it may not feel like it), and with the change of the seasons comes the urge to spend more time outdoors—and this two-bedroom duplex in Clinton Hill would be an excellent place to do just that.
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The conversion of a stately Park Slope building that once served as a lavish hotel for the Knights of Columbus—and more recently as a scandal-plagued senior center—into 63 condos is moving forward, with sales launching this spring.
Read full story

3/18/2019
4 Unique Factors To Consider When Shopping For A Condo - Forbes

3/18/2019
4 Unique Factors To Consider When Shopping For A Condo - Forbes

For the most part, shopping for a condo is a lot like shopping for a single-family home.
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Manhattan’s luxury real market had a little spring in its step last week, marking the third time in the last four weeks that the number of contracts signed on high-end homes exceeded 20, according to Monday’s weekly Olshan Report.
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New York’s proposed tax on absentee apartment owners is being seen as only the latest insult to foreign second-home buyers. Already wary of President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, they now face an assault from the political left.
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3/18/2019
Brooklyn Botanic Garden fears being left in the shade by proposed condo towers - The Real Deal

3/18/2019
Brooklyn Botanic Garden fears being left in the shade by proposed condo towers - The Real Deal

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is opposing zoning changes that would allow Bruce Eichner’s Continuum Company and Joel Bergstein’s Lincoln Equities to build two residential towers at 960 Franklin Street in Crown Heights, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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3/15/2019
Proposal to eliminate voids in NYC buildings will be a ‘challenge,’ experts say - Curbed

3/15/2019
Proposal to eliminate voids in NYC buildings will be a ‘challenge,’ experts say - Curbed

Advocates are calling on the city to strengthen a zoning amendment that seeks to crack down on excessive mechanical voids often abused to increase a building’s height, but engineers and architects warn that the revision would create “new challenges” for those tasked with efficiently designing buildings.
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3/15/2019
Court deals blow to controversial Upper West Side tower - Crain's New York Business

3/15/2019
Court deals blow to controversial Upper West Side tower - Crain's New York Business

A court has overruled the city's decision to allow construction of an Upper West Side condo tower that has sparked outrage from community groups and elected officials.
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3/14/2019
Billionaire Stephen Ross Insists Hudson Yards Is For Everyone. And He’s Unhappy That No One Believes Him. - Forbes

3/14/2019
Billionaire Stephen Ross Insists Hudson Yards Is For Everyone. And He’s Unhappy That No One Believes Him. - Forbes

Stephen Ross, the 78-year-old billionaire real estate titan behind the most ambitious, most expensive, most criticized mixed-use development in Manhattan’s history, the $25 billion Hudson Yards, loves to walk.
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3/14/2019
If You Gild It, Will They Come? - NY Times

3/14/2019
If You Gild It, Will They Come? - NY Times

On Friday, the Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards will open, the culmination of more than a decade of planning, strategizing and developing, and New York City will have the newest, shiniest, largest expression of what we used to call a “mall.”
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HFZ’s Ziel and Helene Feldman and Nir Meir hosted a topping out for The XI, their Bjarke Ingels-designed residential project at 76 11th Ave., which will have the first-ever urban Six Senses hotel.
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Sotheby’s International Real Estate is accusing a property company of bilking it out of a hefty ­commission arising from the alleged sale of a multimillion –dollar condo at 520 Park Ave. to the billionaire owner of the Los Angles Angels, Arte Moreno, according to court papers.
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3/11/2019
On Fourth Avenue, a condo building inspired by Brooklyn brownstones launches from $1.7M - Curbed

3/11/2019
On Fourth Avenue, a condo building inspired by Brooklyn brownstones launches from $1.7M - Curbed

Sales have launched at Parlour, Park Slope’s newest luxe building that’s rising on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue.
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3/11/2019
New NYC apartments for sale: Spring 2018 - Curbed

3/11/2019
New NYC apartments for sale: Spring 2018 - Curbed

Spring is just around the corner, which can only mean one thing: New York City’s real estate market is about to pick up, and quickly.
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Cooperator.com is an online edition of The New York Cooperator newspaper. The publication serves the co-op and condo community with thousands of free articles on management, finance, maintenance and more...